The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-18
A DEFAULTER'S REMORSE.
Ex-Treasurer Burk of Galveston, Is Tired of
EXile-Sensational Letter from Him.

EXile-Sensational Letter from Him.
GALVESTON, Aug. IA great sensation has
been caused here by the report that the default
ing ex-treasurer of Galveston county, W. j.
Burk, had written letter to a person in this
city In which he announced his intention to
come back to Galveston and give himself up to
justice 1t has only been about eight months
since Burk disappeared and the peculiar cir
cumstances of the attracted considerable
attention. He had been county treasurer for
several terms, and it appears that his defeat at
the last election so preyed upon his mind that
he concluded to disappear in the usual mysteri-
manner, at the same time forgetting to set
tie his accounts with the county. The county
employed several detectives to ferret out his
hiding place, but all to avail. and the county
despaired OF ever again seeing Burk securing
the missing funds. Burk grew restless of being
bounded and hunted. however. and. after
naming in obscurity with remorse for a COM
panion for many months, has at length evinced
a desire to surrender himself to the mercy of the
law.
His letter reads as follows:
''SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 8.
"Dear Friend-After time that
eternity, and an experience in suffering almost
beyond my power of endurance about to
do that which should have done when at fret
realized the position in which / had placed my
family, friends and myself. AS to the causes
which led me to take such unfortunate STEP
i know not whether to attribute it to the SYM
patty of my friends or the jeers of those who
to think or / wanted to die. The night before I
left remained in my Office all night debating
as to whether should die and end all or con-
tnue to live, and decided upon death in the
morning. l went home to take a last look at my
wife and child, fully determined TO then to
the beach and blow my brains out After tell
frrv 10 hat ypn hoh 90 wa fnr
day to, and bidding her goodbye. went into
the paror to kiss Jennie. and found her singing
'lll write a letter to papa and tell him how sad
are.
This destroyed my resolution. God alone
knows how I suffered before could get out of
the house. / could not die with her voice re-
peating in my mind the words of the song, but
must have, and with this end in view /
to Houston Before could get to a hotel
] met several persons whom knew, and it
sympathy Worried in mind ard body, went
back the depot and took the train for Austin.
Unfortunately friend was hand again.
Thinking only of rest. took the west-bound
train, determined. / thought, to find il.
ARRIVING at San Francisco began to realize
how far was away from home and had started
toward the telegraph Office. when unfortunately
met another friend. | returned to the hotel
and how long l remained do not know. Start
ing to go back home I went toward the fer
met met anes hns friend ,a who VII. had lust
arrived. 1t was the same old story; it was
much. The ship Zuleika was about to sail for
and in few days was on the ocean. Here. at
last would find rest. Miserable mistake! For
forty-six days surrounded by the calm and
and peaceful ocean, L found no rest no peace.
The enormity of my crime, the irreparable in
jury that had done my poor wife and child. the
false position in which had placed my friends
broke upon my mind, and again l resolved
die, but it not to be- The words of that
song and Jennie's voice kept from taking
that which, to me, was worthless arrived In
Sydney on the 6th dag of January--memorable
day; 80;
Is52-an outlaw the destroyer OF the happiness
of all that / held dear. broken hearted and
miserable wretch in 1887, is it surprising that I
cursed the hour and day which L was born?
out money friends, 1 made effort pull
myself together and failed Previous to this
bad met Mr.. --. from New York. and in
moment of weakness | had told him a part Of my
story. On the Goth of February had spent my
last Taking my package of bonds 1
wrapped them up and took them to him. and
told him would go to the country, saying moth
ing about my condition. l went without food
the next day. and at night slept upon the ground,
praying to God that hunger would cause me to
end my miserable existence. The next night,
about o'clock, Mr.. -- sent his nephew
tho place where I had stopped to see if I had
gone, and learned that had given up my
the day before. but that my valse still there.
This excited his suspicion, and was hunted for
upon the Streets found and made to promise
that would live.
From this time until the 18th day of June
he paid my board and would each evening
courage me to hope. until at last I determined
to return home, suffer for the wrongs had done,
and trust to God to give mo that peace of mind
which for many months had been stranger
to. will not attempt to tell you the suffering
that this effort caused me, but believe me when
tell you that punishment of any kind will be
pleasure to How to get home? Mr.. - is
a poor man; could not ask him to pay my pas
sage after doing so much for me. and knowing
as did the chances of my ever being able to
pay him were very slim. Learning that the
steamship Mariposa frequently carried ''work-a-
ways" went to the chief officer and begged
him to take to this place, promising to do
my best at coal-shoveling any other work
that to be done. l succeeded, and for TWEEN
ty eight days I shoveled coal. scrubbed decks
and painted, thanking God for the opportunity. |
II arrived here the 9th day of July, and |
from that day to the present have been hoping |
but dreading to meet that knew. |
Unable to sleep at night. restless and miserable |
during the day, have at last brought myself to |
a condition of mind that enables me to write this
letter, aud authorize you to 60 to Judge Austin, |
tell him where / am. and of my desire to return
and rectify the past far possible and /
cept whatever fate may be in store for me. It |
is my wish to cost the county as little possible,
and to this end the judge go to the ticket
an agent here to give ticket home, at the
same time telegraphng to me who to to.
and will come at once, or If there exists the
east doubt in his mind to my intentions let
him send a deputy sheriff after me.
Dear friend, this is all. have written you |
FULLY, so you can tell my friends IF 1 have any
eft) my story. Sympathy I do not expect or
deserve. 1 only ask that pity be extended my
wife and child. You will please tell Victor
Ind my brother. l send by express tomorrow
% Judge Austin a package of bonds. Your
miserable friend, w. j. BURK."
NIutiny in the suItan's Harem.
London Society